NEW YORK — Although the Magic have already won the regular season series with three victories against the Knicks entering the fourth and final meeting on Friday, Orlando has the opportunity to do something the franchise hasn’t accomplished in 22 years.
With a win, the Magic would sweep the Knicks in a four-game series for the first time since 2002. Orlando last swept new York in 2010, but that came over a three-game stretch.
While Jamahl Mosley’s team continues to progress in the East, this competition is also an opportunity for the Magic to further separate themselves from the Knicks, fifth (36-26), who are 1/2 game behind n °4 Orlando.
Finishing fourth or higher would give the Magic home-court advantage in a first-round playoff series. Before Thursday’s games, Orlando (37-26) was just 3.5 games behind the third-place Cavaliers (40-22), but only 2 games ahead of the eighth-place Pacers (35-28). , who will visit the Kia Center on Sunday.
With such a small margin for error, the Magic know that every game counts.
This is why Wednesday’s victory against the last Wizards (9-53) on the second night of a row counts as much as a potential victory in New York.
“It just comes down to who this group is,” Mosley said Wednesday night. “Being able to be resilient no matter what happens.” Don’t view circumstances as things you can’t control. Each team also has back-to-back matches. You can’t use that as an excuse and this team won’t do it.
“Every other team has guys in and out of lineups. You can’t use that as an excuse. And this band really took hold of it and made it what we are.
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Winners of five straight games, the Magic are expected to get Gary Harris and Jonathan Isaac back after the duo sat out in Washington due to injury on the second night of a row. Neither is listed on the injury report.
Center Wendell Carter Jr. (right knee soreness) is listed as questionable after not playing Wednesday. He missed five games (Dec. 29, Jan. 5-13) with tendinitis in his right knee.
Although Orlando should be healthier, the same cannot be said for New York.
The Knicks have gone 7-9 since All-Defensive forward OG Anunoby (right elbow surgery) and two-time All-NBA forward Julius Randle (dislocated right shoulder) were injured Jan. 27 against the Heat.
They remain out alongside center Mitchell Robinson (left ankle surgery).
Meanwhile, All-Star guard Jalen Brunson (left knee contusion) is questionable. Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said Brunson participated in “most of the practices” Thursday.
New York has relied on backup point guard Miles McBride the past two games since Brunson was lost less than a minute into Sunday’s win over Cleveland.
Reserve forward Precious Achiuwa replaced Anunoby while Isaiah Hartenstein replaced Randle.
Orlando knows it’s difficult to win games with key pieces missing because they’ve been doing it all season. The Magic are also keen to create room to maneuver in the consolidated East.
Still, winning in New York is no easy task, regardless of the player. Despite their recent skid, the Knicks are 20-12 at Madison Square Garden.
Email Jason Beede at [email protected] or follow him on X, known as Twitter, at @therealBeede.
